1 68 



THE CACTACEAK. 



central and longer ones sometimes 3 cm. long, those on old and flowering branches numerous when 

 young brownish, in age nearly white, all weak, bristle-like. 3 to 8 cm. long, hardly pungent; flowers 

 Ito f cm. long, white; scales on ovary and tube mmute, numerous, bearing tufts of white wool in 

 their axils; immature fruit sometimes longer than broad; mature ruit either globular or a httle de- 

 pressed, red, said to be edible, bearing scattered minute areoles with small tufts of wool; pulp white; 

 seeds numerous, black. 



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Type locality: Near Chosica, Peru, at 800 meters altitude. 



Distribution: Mountains oi western Veru. 



The top of the flowering plant is made up of a compact mass of long white or yellowish 



Ip-like snines from one side of which the flowers appear, and this F. Vaupel has termed 



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phalium 



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locality in 1914. 



from 



in 1914; figure 238 shows the fruit of the plant photographed at Santa Clara. 



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Fig. 238.— Fruit of B. 

 melunostele. Xo.6. 



Fig. 239. — Flower of Binghamia 



acrantha. Xo-7. 



Fig. 240. — Fruit of Binghaniia 



acrantha. X0.7. 



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2. Binghamia acrantha (Vaupel). 



Cereus acranthus Vaupel, Bot. Jahrb. Engler 50: Beibl. iii: 14. 1913- 



Stems I to 3 meters high, much branched at base, the branches usually erect, 5 to 8 cm. thick; 

 ribs 12 to 14, low, somewhat tuberculate above, but on older parts with mere constrictions; areoles 

 large, approximate, felted and spiny; felt at first yellow, then brown, finally black; spines at first 

 yellow, numerous, short, and spreading, except the i or 2 centrals, which are stouter, 3 to 4 cm- long, 

 porrect or reflexed; flowers opening in the early evening; flower 6 to 7 cm. long, gradually tapermg 

 upward from base, about 2.5 cm. in diameter at the top; scales on ovary and flower-tube small, 

 acute, with small tufts of wool in their axils; upper scales and outer perianth-segments mauve; 

 limb 4 to 5 cm. broad when fully expanded; inner perianth-segments usually white, sometimes 

 greenish, oblong, obtuse, 2 to 2.5 cm. long; style cream-colored, much exserted; stigma-lobes greenish; 

 fruit red, its pulp white, edible, slightly acid. 



Type locality: Santa Clara, east of Lima, Peru. 



Distribution: Very common on the hills above Lima, from Santa Clara to Matucana. 



This is one of the most common species in central Peru, being especially abundant on 

 the hillsides and in the narrow valleys between the hills, but not extending down into the 

 broad valleys. 



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forms 



In the lower parts of its range, where the 



fogs are abundant, especially about Santa Clara, the branches are often covered with 

 lichens and tillandsias. 



specimens 



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expanded at 9. 



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